American Airlines to stop offering first class seats for long international flights 

American Airlines announced on Thursday that it will no longer offer first-class seats on long international flights because “customers aren't buying it.”

Airline executives announced the decision last week during an investor call, adding that they plan to replace first-class seating with more business-class offerings. 

"First class will not exist on the 777, or for that matter at American Airlines, for the simple reason that our customers aren't buying it," said American Airlines chief commercial officer Vasu Raja.

Instead, the change to additional business offerings will allow the airline to provide "what our customers most want or are willing to pay for," Raja added. 

The overhaul of the carrier’s seating comes as travel trends are changing. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, business travel has waned, and international flights are being replaced by leisure travelers who are less willing to buy expensive tickets. 

The Global Business Travelers Association (GBTA) projected that corporate air travel will not return to its pre-pandemic levels until after 2026. 

"To understand the headwinds that have been impacting a more accelerated recovery for global business travel, all you have to do is look at the news headlines since the beginning of 2022," said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang. "The forecasted result is we'll get close, but we won't reach and exceed 2019's pre-pandemic levels until 2026."

In September, the airline announced a new “Flagship Suite” business class — a “private premium experience in the sky" that includes a lie-down bed with a privacy door and personal storage.” The new class will be installed on the new Airbus A321XLRs and Boeing 787-9 model planes starting in 2024.

American Airlines will continue to offer first-class seatings on domestic flights and shooter international flights.